Introduction to Traffic, Parking, and Local Ordinance Violations Reporting

 

The traffic, parking, and local ordinance violations reporting matrices (hereafter called traffic matrices) have been redesigned to more accurately capture filings and dispositions for the category of cases that comprise the largest percentage of the state trial court caseload.  In addition, a more detailed manner of disposition reporting for traffic cases has been created.  Similar to the criminal reporting scheme, manner of disposition categories for traffic cases include non-trial dispositions (including guilty pleas, nolle prosequi, deferred adjudication, and dismissed) and jury and bench trial dispositions (guilty verdict, acquittal, and pleas after trial starts).  Three features of the new reporting scheme deserve special mention and discussion.

 

First, to be counted as a traffic case, the offense should be listed in a state statute or code section, as opposed to a local ordinance (which is a separate case type).  Non-criminal traffic cases are often termed “infraction.”  Most often these cases result in fines if a conviction is rendered; examples include speeding, failure to signal, running a stop sign, and failure to yield right-of-way.  Any felony traffic and all DUI or reckless driving cases should be included in the criminal case prototype and not in the traffic section.

 

Second, the Caseload Summary matrix has been redesigned to capture more detailed information about case activity.  In addition to reporting new filings and dispositions, the matrix now allows for the reporting of Active and Inactive pending cases, Reopened and Reactivated cases, Entry of Judgment and Reopened Dispositions, and cases that are Placed on Inactive Status.  The reporting categories have been augmented in an effort to gain a better understanding of court workload.  Examples have been included to assist in explaining how to record different case management events.

 

Third, the new reporting scheme is designed to capture those traffic cases transferred or otherwise moved to non-court administrative agencies.  Efforts to decriminalize less serious traffic cases in many jurisdictions have led to a dramatic decline in total traffic caseloads as certain cases (particularly parking) have moved to executive branch traffic bureaus.  Because the implications are significant for freeing up valuable court resources, this change to the reporting of these cases is designed to determine the volume of traffic cases diverted from traditional court processing.